Inquest opens into men's sea rescue deaths

Two men who died while trying to rescue two children from the water are likely to have drowned, an inquest has heard.

Wayne Taylor, 38, and Ian Pascoe, 62, were recovered from the water by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) at Seaton Carew Beach, Hartlepool on 12 July.

The pair were pronounced dead a short time later, while both of the children were confirmed to be safe.

Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool Paul Appleton opened the inquest at Middlesbrough Town Hall and said the provisional cause of death for the men was drowning.

Appleton said police received a 999 call from a person saying a child had been swept to sea and their husband had entered the water at about 15:45 BST.

On arrival, police were told two boys were playing when one was swept underwater and was in distress.

Wayne Taylor, the husband of the caller, and Ian Pascoe entered the water to attempt to rescue the child, the inquest heard.

A third man entered the water and was able to bring the child to safety.

But Taylor and Pascoe did not emerge from the water following the rescue of the child.

About five minutes later, they were still out at sea "barely noticeable to the naked eye", about 50-75m (164-246ft) from the beach.

At 16:00 the coastguard arrived and confirmed two bodies had been recovered from the water.

The men were taken to Hartlepool lifeboat station and treated by the North East Ambulance service, but were both pronounced dead, the inquest heard.

Concluding the opening of the inquest, Appleton said further reviews would take place when a number of statements, including details of lifeguard cover at the location, were received.

The deaths prompted calls to extend the provision of lifeguard services outside of school holidays.

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